Officials plan to return exotic animals to owner's widow

The five remaining animals from a suicidal man's Zanesville farm will be released to his wife, the state announced today. But the exchange likely won't occur until later this week.

Allison Manning, The Columbus Dispatch

The five remaining animals from a suicidal man's Zanesville farm will be released to his wife, the state announced today. But the exchange likely won't occur until later this week.

State agriculture officials said today that it would drop the fight to keep the animals quarantined at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, where they have been since Terry Thompson released dozens of his exotic animals from their cages before killing himself in October. Deputies killed 48 of Thompson's animals that night to protect the public.

His widow, Marian Thompson, has lobbied for the return of the five surviving animals, a spotted leopard, black leopard, two Celebes macaques and brown bear. An additional animal, a spotted leopard, was euthanized after being crushed by a closing gate at the zoo.

Thompson has indicated she plans to bring the animals back to the Zanesville farm and securing them in the cages that were in place before the October release, ODA spokeswoman Erica Pitchford said in a news release. The six animals were never freed by Mr. Thompson.

Pitchford said Thompson has refused to allow anyone to evaluate the conditions at the farm to determine if the cages are sufficient.

Under current law, enforcement powers are with the local authorities, not the state, and no local action has been taken, Pitchford said. A bill passed last week by the Ohio Senate would ban the ownership of lion, tigers, bears and other exotic animals starting in 2014. Current owners would have to insure, microchip and register their animals in order to keep them. The first hearing on the bill in the House is scheduled for Wednesday.

"Hopefully legislation pending in the General Assembly will be completed soon so that new, broader, tougher rules can go into effect to better protect the public from dangerous wild animals and ensure these kinds of animals are kept under the care of veterinarians and in enclosures that are clean and adequate," she said. "Until then, we can only hope that local officials choose to act to prevent another tragedy."

Kasich placed the responsibility on the local officials, who he said have the authority to inspect the property and ultimately decide if the farm is safe to hold the animals.

"We think there's authority for this to be handled in the right way," Kasich said. "That is for the humane society and local officials to be able to get out there and inspect. Warrants can be issued. They can go out and see what the conditions are on the ground. They've chosen not to do that. Again, that's their decision. I disagree with it totally but I've got to respect their ability to do it. Once the legislation passes, then we'll (the state) have the authority."

Sheriff Matt Lutz said with no exotic animals yet on the farm - and no complaints - there's no action he can take.

"We don't have the right to go on to the property to do anything," he said.

He said that county Prosecutor Mike Haddox and Thompson's attorney had been in touch about arranging some kind of visit to inspect the cages and property. Thompson's attorney, Robert McClelland, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

As for the apparent shift in responsibility to local authorities, Lutz said that was unfair and unwarranted.

"There was no law in place for myself as a local authority for us to do anything about the situation in the first place," he said. "There's nothing in place as of April 30 at 2 p.m. for me to go onto her property."

For now, Lutz said he would monitor the station, and respond to any situations as they arise - just as he did on Oct 18.

The Kasich administration sent a letter last week to Muskingum County Humane Society board member Patty McNutt, asking her to intervene because of the "unsafe and unsanitary" conditions at the Thompson Farm.

McNutt did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Barry McElfresh, president of the humane society, said he's heard no word from state officials since the October release. He has visited the Thompson farm on Kopchak Road three times, for unfounded complaints about underfed horses, and said Marian Thompson has been cooperative.

He said he has not inspected the cages where the animals will apparently go. If the animals are brought back to the farm, he said he'll contact Thompson and arrange a visit.

"If she's going to take them back to Muskingum County, we'll be out there," he said.

As for the state's apparent blame shifting to the local authorities, McElfresh said humane societies don't have any resources to handle exotics. He questioned where they would go if seized, as they would be under the pending legislation.

Zoo officials, who have been holding the animals under the quarantine, got word of the planned release through the media, said spokeswoman Patty Peters.

Despite today's decision, it will be at least Wednesday before Thompson would retake ownership of the animals. Peters said zoo protocol requires animals to fast for 24 hours before being sedated for transport. The five animals have already been fed today.

"Unless someone orders us not to follow formal protocol" the animals will remain in the zoo's care today, Peters said.

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